Biffa Waste Services fined £105,000 over pollution

Biffa Waste Services has operated a landfill site at Houghton Quarry for 16 years

A waste company has been fined £105,000 after admitting contaminating ground water in Sunderland.

Biffa Waste Services admitted five charges, brought by the Environment Agency, concerning the failure of systems to prevent pollution.
Leachate, formed during the decomposition of organic waste, was found to have leaked from a landfill.
The company said it "deeply regrets" the situation and was also ordered to pay almost £27,000 in costs.
It admitted the charges at Sunderland Magistrates' Court relating to pollution leaking into the water table from storage tanks and an access road at the landfill site at Houghton-le-Spring between 2010 and 2011.
Biffa said it has worked with the Environment Agency to ensure drinking water supplies were safe.